Amy, Wellbeing Practitioner from Counselling, Health and Wellbeing, tells us all about University Mental Health Day.

Thursday 2nd March is University Mental Health Day! University Mental Health Day is a national initiative started by Student Minds, designed to raise awareness about mental health on campuses across the UK.

Get Active

This year the focus is on Active Mental Health.

Did you know that being active is one of the five ways to wellbeing? Whether you get active through physical exercise or recreational activities, activity is a key part of looking after your wellbeing. Our mental health can change from day to day, but we can help keep it in check by staying physically active.

There are lots of ways you can get active about your mental health! Whether it’s by practicing mindfulness, starting yoga, joining a society or by taking your first step to better mental health by making an appointment with us here at Counselling, Health and Wellbeing.

Here are some of the ways you could get active for your mental health…

Free Exercise Referral

Keeping fit can improve your mental health and general wellbeing. The exercise on referral scheme is a joint initiative between Counselling, Health and Wellbeing and Cardiff University Sport which is designed to support students experiencing low mood or anxiety who may benefit from a supported exercise programme.

A member of the Counselling, Health and Wellbeing team must refer you to the scheme, which is a fully funded programme of one-to-one support with a member of the sports team. To find out more, read the our blog or take a look at the keeping fit intranet page.

Join a Society

There are hundreds of societies here at Cardiff University which offer great opportunities to meet new people, build support networks and get active by trying something new or taking up an old hobby. Find out more about joining a society here.

Join in the event here at Cardiff University

As part of #UniMentalHealthDay, Student Minds have teamed up with the Wales Psychiatry Society to run an art competition for students inspired by their experiences or perceptions of mental health. The entries will be judged by a panel consisting of a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a medical student and an individual with lived experience of mental illness.

The Express Yourself Art Exhibition is a free event taking place on Thursday 2 March, 5.30-8.30 in the Hadyn Ellis Building. There will be a wine reception, nibbles, an opportunity to browse the artwork and a screening of a short film produced by medical students at Cardiff University, before the winners are announced. Find out more here.

Get involved on social media

We’d love to hear about how you’re getting involved this University Mental Health Day! Tweet us @studentlifecu with the hashtag #UniMentalHealthDay and let us know how you’re getting active for your mental health.

Contacting Counselling Health and Wellbeing

If you are experiencing any kind of emotional distress, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us, we offer support to anybody experiencing any sort of difficulty, however big or small.

Bookable appointments are available via our online referral questionnaire, in which our friendly, approachable staff can offer you non-judgemental support in a safe and confidential space. We also offer a daily Wellbeing Walk-In Service Monday–Friday 3 – 3.45pm and Wednesday mornings 9.30 – 10.15am at the Student Support Centre at 50 Park Place. We also hold a walk-in services at Student Support Centre in the Heath on Wednesday afternoons 3 – 3.45pm.

Watch our video and see for yourself that we have friendly and approachable staff. Staff who are able to listen to you non-judgmentally, in a safe and confidential space.

If you are worried that you are experiencing physical symptoms that may be affecting your health, we strongly advise you to make a GP appointment to discuss this. If you do not already have a GP, please contact NHS Wales on 0845 46 47 or check out their website to view all of your GP options.

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